People of all ages can get COVID-19 but being “high-risk” means you have a medical condition(s) or lifestyle factor(s) that can cause you to get really sick. This can lead to being hospitalized, needing intensive care, requiring a ventilator to help you breathe, or even death.
Having a risk factor is more common than you think.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that even just one of the common conditions below significantly increases your chances of severe illness. The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk is.
Your risk of becoming really sick increases with the following factors and health conditions
Age 50+
Cancer
Certain mental health conditions
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic liver disease
Chronic lung disease
Cystic fibrosis
Dementia or other neurological conditions
Diabetes
Disabilities
Heart conditions
HIV infection
Obesity and being overweight
Physical inactivity
Pregnant or recently pregnant
Racial, ethnic, or economic disparity that affects access to healthcare
Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
Smoking (current or former)
Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
Substance use disorders
Tuberculosis
Weakened immune system
Treating COVID-19
If you’re at high risk for severe COVID-19 and test positive, authorized treatment options are available. Treatment needs to be started as soon as possible after you develop symptoms to be effective. So, talk to your doctor to determine whether one of the authorized treatment options is right for you. If you don’t have a doctor, you can visit a Test to Treat location, talk to a pharmacist, schedule a telehealth visit, or contact your local health department.
